Volume 107: Issue 3

THE LEADER

MAY 22, 2014

Ke AlAKA i‘

We Are Samoa Festival 12

Making Tough Choices 14-15

High School students showcase Samoan culture

Competitors fight to be world’s best fireknife dancerWorld Fireknife Competition 10-11

Tevita Tuituu makes spiritual growth his top priority

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ON THE COVER

A young competitor performs at the Junior World Fireknife Competition held at the Polynesian Cultural Center on May 8. Photo by Hector Periquin

Table of

CONTENTS

[6]

[14-15]Tevita Tuituu, BYUH student and missionary from ‘The Distr ict 2’ f inds value in spir i tual and cultural growth

‘We are Samoa’ festival celebrates Samoan cul-ture on the North Shore

[4]

[10-11] Fireknife competit ion br ings the heat to PCC

LDS missionar ies pulled out of Ukraine

Photo of the week: Students head toward the beach to

escape the summer heat.Photo by Kelsie Carlson

May 22, 2014 • Volume 107: Issue 3

Austin Meldrum

EDiTOR-iN-CHiEF ADViSOR

Leeann Lambert

Makenzie Head

ART DiRECTORCOPY EDiTORSAustin MeldrumHomer Wolman

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kelsie CarlsonHector Per iquin

ART & GRAPHiCS

Makenzie HeadMorgan BouwhuisLauren Steimle Hector Per iquin

MULTiMEDiA JOURNALiSTS

Rebecca Sabalones, Samone isom, Samantha Spring, Lauren Steimle, Emily Halls, Jessica Tautfest, Reid Crickmore, Jared Roberts

Rebecca GuldenGreg Er ickson

iNTERNS

AD MANAGER

ViDEOGRAPHERSNi ShipengJames AstleJef f Coll insAbraham Garcia

Jef f McLeod

Share with us your photo of the week and

we may feature it in

our next issue. e-mail us at

kealakai@byuh.edu

WORTHYN e W s H e a d l i N e s

New Zealand entertainer Ash Puriri visits BYUH

Ash Puriri, a famous entertainer from New Zealand and the Maori Advisor in Enter-prise development for Waikato Management School, came to Brigham Young Universi-ty-Hawaii to inspire students about cultural preservation through tourism and industrial development. “Indigenous cultures are the distinc-tive characters of tourism development,” said Puriri. “There are cultural methodological models that can help in terms of engaging into tourism, whether its qualitative or quan-titative research.” Puriri’s model of research suggested studies of indigenous people should be done on a more familiar level. “When I go to do research in Fiji, I’ll do it in Fijian,” said

Puriri. “When research for the culture is done, it should be by a Fijian to get an indigenous perspective.”Ally Cappelle, a senior in inter-national cultural studies from

Massachusetts, said, “It’s important to hear the culture from the perspective within the culture and not always from outside.” Puriri told students and faculty that the people within the culture should be in charge to determine what part of their culture should be shared to tourists. By doing so, Puriri said, indigenous people would have the ability to control the preservation of their own culture.

Puriri then gave an example of a man that rode his horse from his paddock to his beached canoe in hopes to invite tourists to take a Maori waka tour for $15 per person and had little success. Puriri offered to adver-tise the man’s small business as he came in with the next cruise ship. “I’m an entertainer on a cruise ship,” Puriri said. “Why don’t I mention it the next time I come in on a ship back from Sydney? Let’s get you some business.”The man’s canoe could only fit 25 people, but after Puriri had suggested the tour, 800 people lined up to pay for the tour and learn more about Maori culture. After a few years, the business became a multi-million dollar business. “He now owns fleets of waka,” said Puriri. However, the man never changed his cultural presentation to fit the commercial idea of what Maori culture is seen as. “Perspectives of sustainability re-quire industries of sustainability,” said Puriri, speaking of culture in the tourism industry. Yeji Ha, a junior in hospitality and tourism management from Korea, said, “He talked about culture and connected it with tourism and that’s really important. We need to connect to the culture.”

NOTE

No school for Memorial Day. The Laie Hawaii Temple, BYUH Bookstore and BYUH Pool will be closed. The BYUH Library is open from 9am till 5pm and the Sewing Lab (CAC 240) is open from 9am to 1pm.

BYUH Security is always open 24/7 (808) 675-3911.

M A Y

The farmers market will be held in the Aloha Center and begin at 10:30am.

-Rebecca SabaloneS

F R i d a Y23

M O N d a Y26

T H e W e e Ki N Q U O T e s

The David O. McKay Center for Intercultural Understanding will host a Cultural Mini-Olympics in the Little Circle from 8:00am to 12:00pm.

Come help Benny Kai fight Cancer by participating in a 5K fun run. Check in is from 9am-10am at Laie Park. The run will be on the Gunstock Ranch bike path. Hats, wristbands and T-Shirts will be available.

s a T U R d a Y24

“Today we’ve decided on a plan of regional and global action that is medium and long term,” -French President Francois Hollande said at a summit in Paris after the United States and its allies agreed on a plan to crack down on Boko Haram. The Islamic extremist group is holding 276 schoolgirls hostage in Nigeria.

“We have a lot of entitlement programs in this country, and we’ve seen how much they cost us on the back end when people don’t have the edu-cation they need. I say let’s make this investment on the front end.”-Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said about signing a law that promises free community college tuition to every high school graduate in the state.

“I’m here because I want your com-panies to know — want companies around the world to know — that I believe there is no better place in the world to do business than the United States of America.”- President Obama said at a roundta-ble meeting with top executives from foreign and domestic companies.

Ash Puriri believes tourism is a way to preserve cultures. Photo from Waikato Times

Ke AlAKA‘i4

Riots, such as the one above, are one of the reasons Church leaders have decided to reassign more than 100 missionaries currently serving,

or assigned to serve in Ukraine. Photo by AP

Missionaries in Ukraine reassigned

Civil unrest leads Church leaders to pull missionaries

- em i ly HallS

After weeks of civil unrest, 67 missionaries have been taken out of Ukraine and 41 missionaries have had their mission calls reassigned to other missions, according to the Deseret News. A statement released by the church says, “Due to ongo-ing uncertainty in Ukraine, 67 missionaries formerly serving in the Ukraine Donetsk Mission who had previously been transferred to other areas within Ukraine will be reassigned to missions within their home countries to complete the remainder of their service. 41 missionaries who anticipated serving in Ukraine have been reassigned to other missions.” The Ukraine Donetsk Mission is the only mission to have been evacuated. Ukraine has four LDS missions, the Ukraine Dnepropetrovsk Mission, Donetsk Mission, Kiev Mission and L’viv Mission. The country is home to 11,439 members and one temple. Ukraine was dedicated for official missionary work in 1991, according to Mormon Newsroom. “The wellbeing of missionaries is always our first priority, and every effort is being made to keep them safe,” the LDS church said in a news release, according to KSL news. The announcement to evacuate missionaries came just days before a planned referendum on autonomy in Donetsk, a city in eastern Ukraine that has been caught up in protests since March 1st, according to Deseret News. A referendum was conducted on March 16 with the residents of Crimea, with 95.5 percent of attendees voting to become a part of Russia, according to the BBC. According to the Associated Press, Russian President Vladimir Putin refused to dis-courage the referendum in Donetsk, and insurgents pushed forward, voicing what they wanted. The Ukrainian revolution began in Independence Square in Kiev in November of 2013. Paul and Becky Jeppson’s son, Zachary, is serving a mission in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. The Utah couple said their son reassures them the violence in Ukraine is not as bad as the rest of the world believes. “There are some areas by the city, that have been alarming, but the rest of the city goes about its business as usual,” said Becky Jeppson. Reading from Zachary’s letter, his father

Photo captions

Paul said, “He loves the people and loves working over there. He just says, ‘Dad, we’re not being stupid. We’re just making sure we stay safe, so don’t worry about it.’” Becky Jeppson continued to read, saying, “Things are good, life is good. Big changes are happening in this county, but the Lord’s work is moving forward.”

Top: Signs at Sacred Falls State Park trailhead mark the penalty for entry. Photo courtesy of DLNRBottom: The waterfall at the end of Sacred Falls hike. Photo by Lauren Steimle

5MAy 22, 2014

WORLD

SACred FAllS Still CloSedOfficials increase issued citations to trespassers

-REID CRICKMORE

The Department of Land and Natural Resources has seen a signif-icant rise in citations for trespassing in April at Sacred Falls State Park. From March to April 2014, the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement issued about 30 citations for illegal entry into Sacred Falls State Park. According to the Associated Press, The Department of Land and Natural Resources issued a majority of the citations to out-of-state residents or U.S. military personnel. Kyle Vreeken, a junior in business management from Laie, said, “For the local police it’s not about meeting quotas or trespassing. It’s about the sacredness of the land and maintaining its sacred past.” Entry into Sacred Falls State Park, and any other closed state park, is a petty misdemeanor, punishable in court with fines of a minimum $100 for a first offense; $200 for a second offense; and $500 for a third or subsequent offense. The Board of Land and Natural Re-sources may also pursue civil administrative penalties of up to $2,500 for a first violation; $5,000 for a second violation; and $10,000 for a third or subsequent violation, according to the DLNR. Allison Smilanich, a senior in marketing from Utah, said, “I don’t think people should be fined for hiking sacred falls because I think it should be up to the hikers to use their judgment about whether they should or shouldn’t hike it.” May 9, 2014 marked the 15 year anniversary of a massive rockslide that killed eight people and injured around 50 others back in 1999. Following that incident, the park was closed to the public and deemed unsafe for entry. Michelle Winchell, a senior in elementary education, said, “I don’t think it’s too dangerous. If people are worried about their safety then they shouldn’t go. There should definitely be a large sign at the beginning of the trail so hikers know that there are falling rocks and they should hike at their own risk.” According to the Associated Press, Dan Quinn, adminis-trator for the DLNR, said, “We encourage people to enjoy the many other state parks and trails that are open and accessible to the public, such as the trails managed by the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife under the Na Ala Hele Trail Access system.”

Ke AlAKA‘i6

After months of practicing, high school students from Kapolei, Far-rington, Redford, Leilehua, ILH poly clubs, and nearby Kahuku High School came together to showcase their Samoan heritage at the Polyne-sian Cultural Center Saturday May 10, 2014. Students participated in the 22nd annual “We Are Samoa” festival, featuring students participat-ing in cultural activities such as speechmaking, coconut husking, and the main attraction, traditional dance. Noel Pauga, a junior studying exercise science from Arizona, said, “You could just see from looking at the parents faces how proud they were of their kids. I was selling photos and everybody was buying tons of photos. The parents especially loved the speechmaking photos.” Each of the local high schools performed a traditional Samoan dance routine replete with traditional elements of Samoan dance such as the “Sasa” and “the slap dance.” After all the performances, Kahuku high school was awarded best performance, followed by Kapolei and Farrington high school. Camilla Falatea, a Kahuku High School student, said, “I loved everything, especially dancing on stage with my school. It was fun. I made some new friends while preparing for the festival. It didn’t matter where we came from, we had one thing in common and that was our love for our heritage.”

The festival was designed for local high school students with Samoan heritage to learn more about their culture and unite the Samo-an community here in Hawaii. Agalelei Taosoga, Advisor to the Kahuku Pasifika club, said it wasn’t easy, but it was well worth it. “At the end of the day you realize how much these types of activities are needed to keep the youth active and out of trouble, not to mention the benefit of learning about their culture,” Taosoga said. Family and friends showed up in large numbers and cheered enthusiastically as their respective high schools proudly showed what their Samoan culture meant to them. Fay Falatea, mother of Camilla Falatea, said, “I loved the ‘We Are Samoa’ program. I really enjoyed watching our youth perform our culture. Each group performed well, but Kahuku was by far my favorite and not just because my daughters and nephews were dancing, but because Kahuku kept it traditional.”

We Are SamoaKahuku High wins performance

award at cultural festival

-HomeR wolman

7MAy 22, 2014

Left: High School students from around the island participated in the ‘We Are Samoa’ festival to recognize Samoan culture and her-itage. Photos by Hector Periquin

Below: Laie students and communi-ty gather to welcome the Hokule‘a as it sailed to Hukilau Beach in Laie in October 2013. Photos by Kelsie Carlson

COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY

T he Hokule’a has set sail again. Almost 40 years after its maiden voyage that helped prove long distance traveling by Polynesians

in the Pacific was possible, the Hokule‘a is setting off again. This time, to redefine the limits of indigenous oceanic travel by embarking on a three-year world wide tour. For the next three years on the dubbed “Malama Honua” journey, the Hokule‘a will circumnavigate the globe. The crew will be spreading a message of global sustainability and the importance of caring for our oceans. Jackson Tilo, a campus employee from Laie, said, “I think this trip will really benefit the people around the world as well as Hawaii.” According to Hawaii News Now, about 1000 people came out for the farewell in Honolulu. The send-off event featured various speakers giving their well wishes, entertainment, food, and educational booths. The outreach isn’t just meant to engage, but also to educate and pass knowledge down to future generations. Joshua Riboldi, a senior in finance from Utah, said, “The Hokule‘a is piece of Hawaiian culture and it’s an exciting thing for

Hawaiians to see their culture be spread around the world.” More than 300 crew members from all over the state will be sailing on the Hokule’a. Their journey will cover 47,000 nautical miles with stops at 85 ports in 26 different countries, according to Hawaii News Now. The first leg is from Hawaii to Tahiti, as Hoku-le’a retraces its 1976 sail to Pape’ete. Kamalain Macy, a senior in social work from Laie, said, “I don’t know if I would be able to make the journey. Three years is a long time and I would probably get really seasick.” Macy was excited for the significance of the voyage and said she is anxious to track its progress. The voyagers will be navigating the worldwide journey without modern instruments. Crew members will be using stars, ocean currents, winds, and birds as mapping points for direc-tion. The crew will sail to Hilo and then, weather permitting, depart for the worldwide voyage on May 24, 2014. The Hokule’a was treated for pests and wood eating ants prior to departure.

-Re id cR ickmoRe

Hawaii sends off vessel with festive farewell

Hokule‘A embArkS on globAl voyAge

Ke AlAKA‘i8

In only its third semester of existence, the Seaside Jester’s Comedy Club performed on May 16, 2014 in front of a crowd of 65 people, its largest crowd yet. The show featured four new performers, which was, “the biggest risk show we’ve done yet,” according to Cameron Abaroa, a junior in IDS from Arizona and the activities coordinator for the Jesters. Despite the large audience, President Tedd Johnson, a senior in psychology from California, said, “This was our smoothest show to date.”

Lei Hong, a junior in computer science from Maui, has been to three of the Jesters’ shows. “They are really funny. It’s some-thing different, a break from school. Laughter is the best medicine.” Hong said she keeps coming back to support her friends, but also because she genuinely enjoys the performances. “It’s fresh and new,” she added. The Jester’s Comedy Club is unique among the other cam-pus clubs. “As far as I know, we are the only comedy club to sign up with BYUH,” said Abaroa. Specialty clubs often have a difficult time staying afloat, but the Jesters have had solid membership for the past three semesters. President Johnson attributes that to effort, polish, and determination. “We have a great pool of talent so we can make each show have good directing, performing, and emceeing. What makes our shows special is all the time and effort we put in to polish it. We haven’t fizzled out because we work the system: plan weeks ahead and follow up,” said Johnson. Part of that polish comes from a meeting held directly after each show. All the performers and other contributors to the show discuss what was done well and could be improved. It is done in an effort to improve their performance ability and reach their overall the goal to make people laugh. Every Tuesday night the club hosts different humor work-shops as part of their training. As activities coordinator, Cameron Abaroa plans the games, as well as the shows. “I’ve always loved improv comedy,” said Abaroa. The comedy club is valuable not only as a place to get laughs, but also to learn important life skills. “I think it’s important for students of all disciplines to come together. In Jesters, they learn how to present themselves, and it really teaches life skills,” said Abaroa. “It teaches hard work and the reward of hard work, because the shows we put together are a lot of hard work.”

W o r k H a r d L a u g h H a r d e r

Jesters Comedy Club delivers dose of humor

-Samone iSom

9MAy 22, 2014

Bottom Left: Trevor McCord appears as the musical guest for the Seaside Jester’s come-dy show. Top Left: Comedians use volunteers as stage props during “Human Props” improv act. Photos by Kelsie Carlson

Left: Kahuku farms has provid-ed locally grown produce and crops for the community for several decades. Now, farms all over Hawaii are seeing noticeable growth. Photos by Kelsie Carlson

Success in agricultural farming is making its way back into Hawaii, with the island of Oahu being home to the majority of the state’s farms. According to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture farm census, Hawaii farmers added 8,000 more acres into production for agriculture between 2007 and 2012. The new growth was found primarily on Oahu, with 8,700 additional acres being farmed, according to the Honolulu Star Advertiser. Over the past 30 years, there has been a decline in the amount of land farmed in the state due to the decline in plantation agriculture. Farming is not only important to the economy of Hawaii, but also to the local community. Farmers form relationships with the land and their customers. Clyde Fukuyama, co-owner of Kahuku Farms Inc. and Kahuku farm grill, says on their website, “I think because we grew up on a farm and because we actually did all the harvesting and fertilizing and now we’re becoming owners and managers of our own operation, we can relate to our workers. So I think we have more compassion and appreciate them more, because we know what it’s like to be out there in the hot sun harvesting the crop.”

Levi Avans, a sophomore in marine biology from Utah, spent time working on farms around the North Shore. “I think that farming is a great thing. It not only helps promote healthy and organic foods, but it also helps to stimulate the local economy. The less that is imported to the island, the less we have to worry about providing for ourselves during a natural disaster. I feel like being in the garden helps to keep people grounded and focused on the simple basics of life, food, water, and shelter.” Farming isn’t just a job for most that claim it as such. It’s a lifelong commit-

- em i ly HallS

ment. According to the farm census, half the farms in the state of Hawaii are not the primary occupation of the principal operator. Souk Haong of Pit Farm in Mili-lani, said, “Hawaii is very challenging… it’s really hard to grow in Hawaii because of the bugs.” Mark Hudson, statistician for the state Department of Agriculture, explains, “The number of farms can be prone to significant changes because most farms are small opera-tions run by individuals or families that can more easily start up or shut down compared with big company farms.” Despite the disad-vantages, Hawaii farmers have found a way to keep their farms in business. Ken Milner of North Shore Produce Value Wagon said, “I think the customers are what keep it go-ing. The customers are the ones that are the most loyal participants of the whole thing.”

green growthoahu’s agriculture on the rise after 30-year decline

CAMPUS

10 Ke AlAKA‘i

Jr.World FireKniFe CompetitionJunior competitors set stage ablaze in fireknife competition

- JaRed RobeRtS

p laying with fire is a normal routine for youth participants in the World Fireknife Competition’s junior division. 15 children

between the ages of 6-11 drove up to Hale Aloha of the Polynesian Cultural Center to compete for the title of best up-and-coming fire-knife dancer. “The fireknife dance was used for war and they used fire to intimidate their opponents,” said 11-year-old Dayton Daong, who returned to the competition after placing first in the junior division last year. The modern take on the ancient dance uses a staff about three-feet long with a hook on one end. Both ends are wrapped in towels soaked in gas then lit on fire. Dancers initially begin with one “knife” and usually work up to two or three in their performances. Most of the dancers’ routines included them spinning knives around and under themselves. Five year-old Mamalu Lilo was allowed to participate as a special guest and took the opportunity as a warm-up to get acquaint-ed with the stage and performing in front of large audiences. Lilo who started dancing when he was three was an excep-tion to the rules set by the World Fireknife Competition committee. “Being the youngest to participate is kind of easy, but I’m worked and always given a hard time,” Lilo added when asked about his experience in fireknife dancing. Among the other competitors was 10-year-old Kekai Niel-sen-Cabagason who started dancing in September of 2013. “My grandma got me started with fireknife dancing,” stated Nielson-Cabagason. He also said him and his grandma would watch fireknife dancing together before he started competing. “Doing fireknife you have to be brave and that’s been the hardest thing for me,” the bashful 10 year-old added. Fireknife dancing doesn’t come easy to those who have dedicated themselves to the art. The three boys stated that all together they practice about 12-14 hours a week and they are all planning on moving up to intermediate levels. Dayton Daong of Waipahu won first place, Vincent Galeai, 11, of Laie won second place, and Mose Lilo, 6, of Ewa Beach won third place. The junior fireknife competition was held on May 8, 2014 in Laie, Hawaii.

Photos: Children between the ages of 6-11 performed at the Junior World Fireknife Competition Thursday May 8, 2014 at the Polynesian Cultural Center.Photos by Hector Periquin.

1 1MAy 22, 2014

COMMUNITY

Ke AlAKA‘i12

“Jedi vs. Wizard”, a commercial released by the BYUH, strives to attract new students through its unique marketing techniques. A year in the making, the two-and-a-half minute video features two BYUH students. One is posed as a Jedi from the “Star Wars” movies, and the other as a wizard from “Harry Potter.” The film is captioned, “Two forces engage in fierce competition, showcas-ing the best of their skills and abilities. Not a classic ‘Good’ versus ‘Evil’ but in the end a ‘Good’ versus ‘Great’ as the two masters contemplate a critical decision - where to go to college.” All acting, filming, editing, and special effects were done by students at BYUH. The video was released on YouTube on May 4, 2014, in honor of Star Wars Day. The video now nearly 2,000 views. At the end of the short video, the two students ask each other what college they want to go to. One of the students says, “I want to go someplace fun, that prepares you for life.” The other stu-dent responds by saying, “It would be nice to go somewhere you can have an experience outside of the classroom too.” Haydin Meeks, a sophomore in psychology from Arizona, said, “At first, I thought it was just another weird video that I found on YouTube, but then the BYUH logo popped up and I was really surprised. I think it’s a unique way to market the university. It makes it seem like we do more than just sit on the beach here at BYUH.” Brandon Halls, a student at BYU-Idaho, saw the video while he and a fellow student were browsing around YouTube. He said, “The video itself is awesome. It makes BYU-Hawaii look really appealing and like I could better my talents there. It’s a really creative way to market the university.” “Jedi vs. Wizard” ends by leaving the audience with the question, “Where will you train your abilities,” as the BYUH logo appears. To watch the video “Jedi vs. Wizard” search the link below.

| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcxc_76VwY0 |

- em i ly HallS

‘JeDI vS WIZArD’BYUH uses creative video to attract new students

BYUH’s “Jedi vs. Wizard” video nears 2,000 views on YouTube. Photos from YouTube.

13MAy 22, 2014

Michael Bliss to retire after 12 years of service at BYUH. Photo courtesy of BYUH website.

CAMPUSCAMPUS

-GReG eR ickSon

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Untitled-3 1 9/11/13 3:49 PM

‘JeDI vS WIZArD’

After 12 years as Vice President of Administrative Services at Brigham Young University-Hawaii, Michael Bliss is retiring. Among other respon-sibilities, Bliss oversaw Human Resources and Student Employment, Materials Management, Financial Services, and Security Risk Management according to the BYUH website. Bliss graduated from BYU in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in business management and then earned an M.B.A. from the University of Alabama in 1973. He joined BYU’s management staff in 1999 as managing director in auxiliary services. Prior to his time at BYU, Bliss was key in implementing a $2 billion project for Micron Construction and their relo-cation to Utah. Bliss also served as a business manager at Duke University, according to BYUH Alumni Services. As he prepares to leave Laie, Bliss said, “I am very excited to re-tire and to undertake a new chapter in life. It has been a blessing to work here at BYU Hawaii. The people that have worked with me have been wonderful and have enriched my life.” Ivy Kahalepuna, senior administrative assistant to Bliss, said she will miss working alongside the departing VP. “He is very kind and thoughtful. If there was ever something I needed to take care of with my family, he was always willing to help.” Bliss further reflected on his 12 years at BYUH and said, “I know that I have grown from my experiences here and hope in some small way that I have contributed to the mission of this wonderful institution. While here, I have been privileged to witness the hand of the Lord as he moves his work forward. I will always hold this place in special remembrance.” BYUH has named Norman S. Black as Bliss’ replacement. Black has been with BYUH since 2011 as Director of Enterprise Information Systems. Before coming to Laie, he served for 10 years as a program man-ager for Lockheed Martin. Black also served as an officer in the Air Force, retiring with the rank of Major. Black served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Italy. Following his mission, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a master’s degree in Management of Computer Resources and Information Systems. “When I was working at Lockheed Martin I was high up on the corporate ladder, but I felt an impression to look at the church website and found an opening at BYUH,” said Black. Having moved around frequently throughout his career, he added, “Everywhere we were was were the Lord needed us. I am excited for the next adventure.”

Vice President of Administrative Services to retire after 12 years

Ke AlAKA‘i14Tevita

CAMPUSTuituu made a pact to himself as a 16-year-old to make spiritual learning a top priority in his life. He coupled his desire for spiri-tual growth with his passion for cultural learning and chose to come to Hawaii to get in touch with his forgotten Tongan roots. Photos by Hector Periquin

- JaRed RobeRtS

15MAy 22, 2014

CAMPUS

T evita Tuituu grew up on the island of Guam located in the Marianas Islands, where his mother’s Chamorro culture prevailed while his father’s Tongan culture was something

he never knew much about. His desire for learning about his Tongan culture drove Tuituu to come to BYU-Hawaii where he could bring together spiritual learn-ing and tie it in with his personal experiences. Growing up wasn’t the smoothest of paths for Tuituu. He stated that when he was a kid his family prayed, but they were never real-ly that active in the LDS church. “I remember going a few times but I always strove for more than just mere exposure,” Tuituu said. When he began high school, he made a pact to himself to make spiritual learning a priority in his life. This new change wasn’t something that came easy to him. Tuituu was enrolled in a private Catholic high school on Guam and being there, “made no sense” to him. Pressure only mounted as he was one of the few LDS members at his school of over 500 students. When he turned 16 and received his driver’s license, Tuituu took matters into his own hands and began to drive to church on his own. “I knew it was the right thing for me,” he said. His desires for spiritual learning eventually led his family to become more active in the LDS church and steered him to serve a mission. You might also notice Tuituu from the famous LDS mis-sionary production ‘The District 2,’ which is used as a training video for missionaries currently serving. He spent most of his mission in the Chula Vista San Diego area of California where he served with former BYU-Hawaii student Tevita

Prioritizing life’s values

BYUH student and Guam native Tevita Tuituu emphasizes

spiritual and cultural learning

‘‘Understand what you want in life. Not the materialistic things, but

the main core values we are

taught.

and “The District 2” missionary Mike Moreno. Before transferring to Chula Vista, Tuituu got a chance to serve in a Tongan ward in El Cajon where his hidden culture flourished. “It gave me a chance to open up more to my Tongan culture and it really made me more curious about

what I was missing.” Tuituu stated that he learned more common cultural practices and traditions such as the close-knit unity of families and their respect for each other. “I learned a little bit of the language and it helped me gain a stronger connection with my dad’s side of the family.” All these experiences led Tuituu to follow what he wanted—spiritual and cultural learning. His advice to students at BYU-Hawaii who are far from home is to “Understand what you want in life. Not the materialistic things, but the main core values we are taught.” Tuituu added that whoever understands that will be able to grow academically and spiritually. After his mission, Tuituu returned to Guam where he met his wife, Ronna. She recalled, “He came back from his mission and a few weeks after that he came to visit me. It was kind of weird we never talked before but we did know each other from mutual and school.” Tevita said that when he came back from his mission he just knew that she was “the one.” The two now live in Laie with their two kids Taysia, 2, and Mosiah, 1. Tuituu is a senior studying business management with an emphasis in operations supply chain.

Ke AlAKA‘i16

Saturday night rush to Foodland feels like the zombie apocalypse and Sunday feels like a ghost town.

It’s Saturday night and it seems like every resident of Laie is at Foodland. Each check-out line is at least 10 people deep. Is the world coming to end tonight? No, it’s just Saturday night and Foodland will be closed for over 24 hours.

Those with a car are treated like royalty.The kid you sit next to in class never seemed like anyone special until the day you saw him walking from the parking lot to your classroom. You start to realize all the funny things he has said and how well you would get along if you were to hang out. Suddenly, daydreams of excursions across the island and endless trips to Costco fill your mind. The opportunities of life with a car seem infinite. He is no longer just the guy you sit next to in class, but he is now the guy that you sit next to in class with car keys in his pocket.

You haven’t been on a date in a year.At home it was no big deal. A few dates a month was normal, but then you came to Hawaii. You’ve met a lot of cool people and done some exciting things but none of those include going on a date. Sadly, people don’t really date at BYUH, they just hang out.

You can’t go anywhere without seeing someone you know.

S igns You Live in Laie

You see a professor while surfing, 10 people from your class at Foodland during the “Zombie Apocalypse” rush, or fellow students shopping in Waikiki. After all, you live on an island.

Your house has a name not an addressYou’re getting to know a new friend while eating lunch at the Seasider and they ask you, “Where do you live?” Prior to living in Laie, you would mention a city name or give them cross streets, but after living here, you know exactly how to answer their question and re-spond with, “The ________ house.”

You know where “town” is.It’s the weekend and you’re deciding what to do when someone suggests to “go to town.” You know exactly where they want to go —Honolulu.

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